Activity of colistin combined with doripenem at clinically relevant concentrations against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an in vitro dynamic biofilm model.

OBJECTIVES Colistin combination therapy may be required to treat biofilm-associated infections. We evaluated bacterial killing and emergence of colistin resistance with colistin and doripenem combinations against biofilm-embedded and planktonic multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa. METHODS One colistin-susceptible reference strain (PAO1) and two colistin-susceptible MDR clinical isolates (HUB1 and HUB2; both carbapenem resistant) were investigated over 72 h in the CDC biofilm reactor, a dynamic biofilm model. Two colistin regimens (constant concentrations of 1.25 and 3.50 mg/L), one doripenem regimen (Cmax 25 mg/L 8 hourly) and their combination were employed. Microbiological response was examined as log changes and absolute bacterial counts. RESULTS For biofilm-embedded bacteria, bactericidal activity was only observed with monotherapy with colistin at 3.50 mg/L. The emergence of colistin resistance occurred with colistin monotherapy against two strains (PAO1 and HUB1), but only with the colistin 3.50 mg/L regimen. Colistin 3.50 mg/L plus doripenem resulted in ∼2-3 log10 cfu/cm(2) initial killing against both clinical isolates and remained synergistic at 72 h. The emergence of colistin resistance was not observed in biofilm-embedded bacteria with either combination. For planktonic bacteria, bactericidal activity was not observed with any monotherapy regimen, although enhanced bacterial killing was observed with doripenem plus colistin 3.50 mg/L against all isolates. Colistin resistance was observed with colistin monotherapy against two isolates, but did not emerge with combination regimens. CONCLUSIONS Doripenem enhanced killing by colistin of biofilm-embedded cells in both carbapenem-susceptible and -resistant strains, and the combination minimized the emergence of colistin resistance.